How long could a person go without sleeping?

Not very long. My head hurt, my vision wasn't as clear as normal and I lost my appetite. I could still hear everything Daniel said from last night as clear as day and the last thing I wanted to do was think about it. But how could you not?

I sat in the kitchen sighing. The other staff and daily buzz continued around me as I looked at my untouched bowl of oats.

It was as bland as how I felt. Sloppy and utterly disgusting. 

"Whatcha doing?"

I looked up at the voice that was far more joyous than mine. Carter scooted in front of me, dressed up, ready for a day at work, a perfectly ironed shirt and I stared at it annoyed at how he got to wear a uniform. As much as I hated that uniform previously, I wanted it now. In front of him was a plate filled with hash browns, sausages, toast, eggs and mushrooms. 

"Why do you look so glum?"

"I'm not glum?" I lied as he popped a buttered up mushroom in his mouth. 

"You look like that. Shouldn't you be happier after everything."

I shrugged. "I don't know." I  guess I should but at the same time I couldn't feel happier. 

"You're alive.  You're not in jail and you are innocent. I would assume that the Isandra I know would be celebrating right now. Not sitting here looking so sad."

I scoffed, I don't thin he knew the real 'Isandra' now, I wouldn't really every be celebrating as hard as he thought I would. 

"You forgot to add that I just lost my job."

"No you didn't."

"Did you hear what the jury said, I'm not allowed to be a guard."

Carter waved his knife as he shovelled eggs into his mouth, "They didn't say that. They said there were some things that you couldn't do. Even though  you would probably be the best person to look after Nik you can find something else to do."

"Like what." I groaned, I didn't particularly want to look after Nik either but I did miss some parts of that baby sitting role. I stirred my oats that were starting to harden up. I should really chuck this out. 

"How about you go into training guards? Make them all as good as you?"

"Isn't that your job...as head of them?"

Carter shrugged, "Yeah but we can do with more people?"

I frowned, "I'll think about it." I said to make him drop the subject, I didn't really feel like talking either. In fact I just wanted to sleep again. 

"I'm going to assume that you wouldn't want to go back to your...you know, old job before you came here." I shook my head. Those days were truly over. I didn't even really consider that. Well..should I?

"Move over."

I looked up as Daniel scooted into the seat and I obliged moving down to make room for him, sure enough his plate was identical to Carter's before he scoffed it all. Carter excused himself rather quickly leaving us both alone.

I watched his figure walk out, did we have a bomb?

"Do you want some eggs?"

I shook my head.

"Did you sleep well last night?" I hesitated and then slowly nodded. I didn't, and Daniel knew I didn't but I wasn't going to admit it myself.

I winced when I felt his hand on my knee, his palm wrapping around in a tight grip, "You good?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Did you read it?"

I nodded raising my eyes to meet his concerned brown ones looking down at me.

"And you're okay?"

"Yes." I said rolling my eyes, "I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine."

"I am." I shrugged, "I get it. They're just doing their job how I used to do mine. I'm sure they have a reason for not seeing us in a long time or why they had to pretend they were dead. I'm sure there are a lot of things they need to explain to me and it would be good if they put it in that paper but instead i got less than ten words. But I'm sure they can come up with some excuse for it."

Daniel frowned as he poked his eggs with his fork, "I guess..."

"I'm not bothered by it."

"I shouldn't have told you. Sorry."

"No don't be. It's fine. I'll just pretend that they're on a really long holiday and eventually will come back. At least I know that they aren't dead and they are somewhat happy, or at least I hope."

"How about we go on a holiday?" Daniel said as he swapped out plates, "Eat some."

"A holiday? To where?"

"You know...to see them. They can't come here right now, maybe one day but there's no rule about us visiting them. It might be a good break for you as well."

My heart skipped a beat, that would be nice, to see my parents after god knows how long but at the same time there was a reason they weren't here, or why wouldn't see me.

I shook my head. 

"I think for now I want to concentrate on my life and getting it back together. I need a new job firstly."

"I'll help you find something. I was even thinking..." Daniel leaned close to me, "Want to come away with me and start a farm and have some cows?"

I pulled back to look at him, "Like seriously?" I asked, and he nodded, looking ever so serious. I frowned, "That just seems so...."

"Boring?" he asked finishing of my sentence, "It's not. It'll be fun. I think we both need a bit of a calmer few moths to settle in even though I know that you sort of can't sit still and be calm. How about we go on a holiday, just somewhere local."

"Maybe."

Daniel lifted his hand higher on my leg and placed in top of my resting left hand on my thigh, interlocking out fingers and resting it there for a few moments. 

"Eat something."

"Maybe later, I don't really feel like breakfast food," with my free hand I pushed the plate back towards him, "Unlike you who must be starving."

He grabbed the fork with his left hand smiling sheepishly, "I'm always hungry" he said.

"So Sandy, how about we go practise some shooting after this?"

"Why?"

"You know, in case you wanted to shoot me in the heart again I have to make sure you don't miss."

I frowned trying to pull my interlocked hand away from his, "Why would you even say that."

Daniel laughed, his mouth full of eggs and it was definitley not an appealing sight yet I didn't want to look away.

He leaned down placing his half oily lips against mine in one of the quickest pecks before just as fast they disappeared to bite into a mushroom.

My heart however, skipped as many beats as the mushrooms on his plate. 

"I don't think I will ever let you live that one down."

I groaned, "can we just mov eon from that, I said I was sorry right?"

"Did you...I don't recall. Can you say it again."

I rolled my eyes ribbing his side. "You should have just stayed in your hiding hole cause maybe I will shoot you again." 

Daniel chuckled, "Oh trust me, if I could forget you, I would."

Daniel placed his fork down, leaving his toast untouched. He pulled our interlocked hands closer to him, "I'm destined to be nothing without you."

I rolled my eyes to stop myself from giving away a smile that he wanted, "Yeah okay, let's go now."

"To the farm?" He asked standing up. 

"Okay fine." I joked but trust Daniel to take it seriously.

"Can we name our first two, Ice and Cream, just for giggles?"

"Urgh Daniel...are you every serious?"

"About you yes, about everything else nah life is too short to be serious without Sandy."

"Great."

"It is, now you're stuck with me forever." Daniel threw an arm around my shoulder.

"I will regret this won't I?"

"I won't give you an option to not. Come on, let's go find you stupid brother and tell him our ingenious idea."

The End - was a bit hard to finish this epilogue since I didn't really want to do a cliff hanger as I promised I wouldn't but I didn't want to start the sequel of her meeting her parents in this chapter as not everyone likes sequels and I didn't want to force people to read on.

But I will be writing the sequel shortly and it will be added ONTO the end of this book, just cause I have so many stories already and I want to introduce more and that way you can find both the Born for books in the one spot.

That one is called Born for Loyalty and I will get a prologue/synopsis up soon!

Let me know how much you loved this book and if you would buy a copy as I want to self publish it rather than go with a publisher (If anyone has already self published message me to talk about the process as I have no idea where to even start) 

Also will be really editing the start like 1/4 of the book a LOT cause it's a bit all over the place. Thanks for being so supportive and sticking around for all these years. I know I take forever to finish books so if you want to read another one go read "The Enforcer" On my profile as that is also completed

And most importantly, follow and message and interact with me on Instagram so I can give away more free books to followers! Insta: nihapupzy

Ily all

NKP